--- title: Copy and Paste --- # Copying and Pasting in Vim In Vim, copying is commonly referred to as 'yanking', and pasting remains the same. ### Command Keys The keys used for yanking and pasting in Vim are: - `x` to delete a character - `y` to yank - `p` to put/paste after cursor - `P` to put/paste before cursor - `pp` to put/past a whole line - `d` to cut - `dd` to cut a whole line - `"` to cut or yank to a register ### Copying To yank or cut, type `y` or `d`, followed by a 'text object'. These describe how much text should be yanked or deleted. For example, `yw` copies one word and `d$` deletes from the cursor to the end of the line. They can also both be used in visual mode, pressing `v` and moving the cursor and then pressing `d` deletes all text inside of the selection. ### Registers A register is just another name for clipboard. But unlike other text editors, Vim has many of such "clipboards". To yank or delete to a register, type `"` (e.g.: `"ayw` to [y]ank [w]ord to register `a`). Register names can be only one character long for obvious reasons (`"m`,`"M`, `"3` are allowed, but `"mr`, `"MyReg`, `"MyRegisterName` are not). The default register that is stored to when no register is specified is `"` and the system clipboard that can be accessed in other programs is `+`. You can also use lower case characters to access registers and use uppercase characters to append to registers. For example `"dyy` copies the current line to the `d` register, typing `"D3yw` copies the next 3 words and adds them to what is already stored in `d`. ### Pasting Pasting can be done in normal mode or in insert mode. In normal mode: - `p` pastes after the cursor - `P` pastes before the cursor - `gp` pastes after the cursor and moves the cursor to the end of the paste - `gP` pastes before the cursor and moves the cursor to the end of the paste In insert mode type `Ctrl-r` to paste and then type a register, normally `"`, this will paste from that register where the cursor is and move the cursor to after the paste.